It was all over this morning’s news: Apparently, resveratol, a red-wine extract, lowers the rate of diabetes, liver problems and other fat-related ill effects in obese mice. Pray, oh pray, that the same effect demonstrates itself in humans. Then, perhaps, we can all swill great quantities of the red stuff (among wine grapes, the pinot noir appears to naturally contain the largest amounts of resveratol) with a free and easy conscience.

 

If you wish to start practicing your wine sipping technique now, be aware there is a proper way to hold a wine glass. Ideally, you will hold any wine glass by its stem. This helps avoid the transference of finger prints to lovely glassware. Additionally, holding a wine glass by its stem helps ensure that your hands don’t warm the wine.

 

By the way, when using very fine crystal, show extra caution when lifting stemware. It takes very little effort to snap a crystal stem, something you surely wish to avoid.